OK folks, here's the real deal as far as I can share it legally at the moment. Consider it as a press release if you wish and feel free to distribute it for whatever reason you deem necessary.

I'm under court order not to speak about specifics and have my attorney trying to find out what the maximum penalty for disclosure really is. I hate to have to keep my mouth shut in areas where the Gestapo is involved, but I also have to weigh things against the overall security of flag and it's subdomains and also the wellbeing of my family.

I have been ordered to submit IP info on two separate incidents having to do with subdomains hosted on flag. Both of these are in regard to claimed or threatened responsibility for acts of propaganda by the deed. Both incidents involve topics which are completely out of line for consideration here at flag and really I can only view them in two ways. Either people are simply ignorant about the murderous history of the FBI, or, as is my belief in one case, they are trying to make flag vulnerable to government intrusion.

At this point let me say, in all honesty and conviction, that if I end up dead by strange means - suicide, overdose, drunk driving accident (I never, ever, ever drink and drive), "accidental" gunshot to the back of the head while sleeping ala Fred Hampton, car jacking, or anything else reasonably suspicious, contact the FBI in Chico, California for more details.

I have called numerous friends nationwide, anarchists and otherwise whose opinions I respect and who I know will be honest and forthwith in their opinions to ask them how I should proceed. The unanimous consensus is that I comply with the wishes of the FBI and provide the IP addresses responsible. The only point of discussion, really, has been whether or not I should reveal the specific information in violation of two court orders.

Really, I am not left with much of a choice. Here are my two choices as I see them:

1. Do not comply with the wishes of the FBI. This will most likely lead to the seizure of flag and a compromise of all the sites and information online. It will probably also lead to me being imprisoned, I would guess. I personally do not fear this, but I am the sole support for my wife and infant daughter. There can be no doubt we would probably lose our home as a result.

2. Comply with the wishes of the FBI, provide the IP addresses, and count on the fact that I will catch a lot of heat and hatred from my comrades in the anarchist movement worldwide.

Though it pains me to comply with the State in any manner, I have to choose option #2. The people who have foolishly compromised us all will shoulder the burden for their selfish actions. Frankly folks, they know better - we all know better.

I was first contacted by the Oakland FBI. Many of you know their history. We are talking COINTELPRO for real - not a perceived or mythical fear. They are proven murderers and automatons for the state who will blindly follow any order to kill or disrupt without question. Read the history of their disinformation campaign against the panthers if you don't believe me. The panther comic book which they completed and distributed, the fake letters between Huey and Eldridge, the fires of hatred and murder they faked and inflamed between the panthers and the US or "united slaves" which led to the murder of Bunchy Carter and John Higgins in L.A., the list goes on and on.

But, the real point is that I feel like a coward and traitor to my comrades, even in the face of what is essentially a coerced decision. I'm the last one who will criticize or disagree with any of you who want to deride me. I'm also aware that this will probably cause quite a few of you to lose faith in me, flag, and it's subdomains. This can't be avoided and it's something I weighed into my decision. I post this mainly to inform you all and give you opportunity to make your own decisions as to whether I've handled this correctly and whether you wish to use flag or it's subdomains in the future. If you don't trust me, I understand, believe me.

It is by far the most agonizing decision I've been faced with in relation to my anarchist opinions.

This is why we do not discuss certain things as if they are a legitimate part of anarchism. Resist the extra y-chromosome influenced urge to sound more hardcore than the guy next to you. Nobody is impressed and the powers that be are sitting on the edges of their seats waiting for an excuse to shut down flag. Freedom of speech does not exist, don't try to test it. They will come bust down your door - for real - point a gun to your head and pull the trigger if you refuse to comply.

I don't think you should be too hard on yourself Pom. You have to do what you have to do to keep out of jail and support your family. If anything the anarchist community owes a debt to you for running the server as long as you have. Even if you pull the plug we can be thankful for the commitment you have put in to this point.

“Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap. What is freedom? To have the will to be responsible for one's self.” -- Max Stirner

Yowza! Had no idea! Your decision was quite sound. Am behind you 100%. Most appreciative of your generous sharing of server space. Sorry about all the trouble it has already brought you. I hope you're able to get this sorted out with the least amount of additional bother.

unfortunate that you're having to go through this, pom. it's a real bummer, and i'm being sincere here.

had i known earlier that you were logging IPs i would have made a fuss and tried to convince you to do otherwise. partially because that sort of thing rubs me the wrong way, but primarily because of this exact scenario. of course, had you not logged them, the process would still be messy. the ss'd go the seizure route like they do with indymedia (who as i understand it doesn't keep IP logs), but it wouldn't have had the same flavor of interpersonal repercussions.

Thanks folks, from the bottom of my heart, for the support. I still do not feel very good about myself, but it's nice to know that my actions are not immediately received as unacceptable by those of you in the anarchist community.

I really don't care what the State or U.S. citizens think of me, but I do value very much the opinions of my anarchist brothers and sisters, agree with me or not.

Pomegranate wrote:1. Do not comply with the wishes of the FBI. This will most likely lead to the seizure of flag and a compromise of all the sites and information online. It will probably also lead to me being imprisoned, I would guess. I personally do not fear this, but I am the sole support for my wife and infant daughter. There can be no doubt we would probably lose our home as a result.

2. Comply with the wishes of the FBI, provide the IP addresses, and count on the fact that I will catch a lot of heat and hatred from my comrades in the anarchist movement worldwide.

Even if you were to not comply with the FBI, wouldn't they end up with the IP addresses anyway? So your choices are either go to jail or not go to jail? No wonder everyone's supporting you...

Everyone except me that is. I challenge you to a duel! Tomorrow we shall fight, and one of us shall die!

Anyway... if Flag is shut down, how will we be able to follow your case, and make sure you're still alive, etc.?

the whole point of it was to try to get pom, anyway. they probably hoped he'd refuse to give in, then they could get the big fish rather than however many tiny fish it was who did the oh-so-terrible deed in the first place, whatever it was.

so this is definetely the smartest choice, and the most beneficial to anarchists worldwide. and, the most beneficial to you too, which is just as important.